I am always looking for new ways to freshen up my home, both inside and out. I try different planters and porch furniture from time to time, but I wanted to try a new structure this time around. I have recently seen lots of new ways to show off your house numbers, and I wanted to make a statement with this DIY project.

By creating a house number board combined with a planter box project, I was allowing myself to create with both crafting materials as well as garden tools and living plants. Before you start your own project from this tutorial, I suggest thinking about your front door space and playing with different dimensions to allow your final project enough room. I wanted taller plants to be able to grow, so I created a larger square board, but the good news is you can customize to fit the area you have in your home. Let your creativity run wild!

Steps to Making a House Number Planter Display Box

1. Cut wood for the planter. Determine the desired dimensions of your planter using the
Fiskars® Tape Measure. Cut two side pieces, one base piece and one front piece, based on your measurements. The planter does not need a back piece since the plywood house number board will serve as the back of the planter.

3. Paint all surfaces. After you have constructed your planter box, sand all surfaces of the planter box and house number board. Then, using a suitable exterior wood paint, paint the plywood sheet and planter. Allow to dry fully. Make sure your paint is for outdoor use as this project will be attached to the outside of your house and you don’t want weather to affect your final project.

4. Attach the planter. Apply wood glue to the back of the planter box and affix in position on the house number plywood board. Next, nail the planter to the plywood from the back of the board to make sure it is secure.

5. Attach the house numbers. Now that your project is fully formed, attach the house numbers according to manufacturer's directions. You can order numbers in any font you want online or go to your local hardware store to check out their selection.

6. Plant your greenery. Now that your project is completely assembled, select your plants for the planter box. Make sure you look for plants of varying color and size to help give some visual interest to the planter box portion of the project. Place succulents or other plants that grow well in your area in the planter. Use the
Fiskars® Big Grip Transplanter to fill in a layer of dirt in the planter box first, and then add your plants. Fill in the areas around the plants tightly with soil and pack down to prop the plants up into the final location.

7. Hang board. Check to make sure your board is level and attach the house number planter box board to the wall of the house or prop against the side.

What plants are the best to use in this planter box?

Because I live in a hot, dry climate, and because I wanted a simple, clean look of white and green for my planter box, I chose a variety of succulents. These work well because they don’t need a lot of attention or watering, so they can stay outside on my front porch and get just the right amount of sunlight. That being said, feel free to mix this up – if you love purple and yellow, try some pretty pansies. If you want to add some drama to your front door, try a vine like ivy. Whatever you choose, make sure to vary the height of your plants – this planter box looks best when you select a few different plant types with complimenting colors in varying heights to draw the eye in.

How much do the materials for this project cost?

This DIY can vary in price depending on the types of plants you select, but overall this is a pretty inexpensive project that you can change up at any point. Feel like adding in fresh flowers? Just buy a few starters in the Spring and add those to the box. When the cooler months roll around, select succulents. And you can always add in artificial plants if you live in an area where the winter months get too cold to support any living plants to keep that greenery going!